FAA Wants Deadheads Empty, Not Occupied - Chief Counsel's Office Gets "Booed" at NATA Summit

Aug 15, 2007 4:55 PM

Despite economics, good business practices and environmental concerns, Joseph P. Conte's powerpoint presentation at NATA's "Air Charter Summit" in late June proved that politics are still the principal concern of the Federal Aviation Administration, even if the charter industry pollutes the skies with empty jet aircraft.  To a dumbstruck crowd of air charter operators, one of whom coughed a thinly veiled obscenity from the back of the room, the FAA's pitch was depressingly unspecific, as it has recently been about other issues.  FAA has a "problem" with the presentation of an available deadhead, though it can't help us all with sufficient clarity to make ends meet.

It seems that of the three elements of a scheduled flight (not kosher under Part 135) the airport of departure, arrival, and the intended time of departure, the last item produces the most heartburn for the chief counsel's office.  Interestingly, most charter operators have chosen to counter this objection by being vague about the first two.  Clearly the airlines are on the case, as Mr. Conte made reference to them in a statement that non-observance of these distinctions "wasn't fair to the 121 carriers."  We wouldn't want the FAA to be unfair, now, would we?

Want to use this article? Click here for options!
© 2012 Penton Media Inc.